Tenancy Customer Charter

Our Tenancy Customer Charter (Charter) is a voluntary framework designed to explain the processes which apply to different types of lease negotiations for port land.

The Charter will apply to eligible leases that were negotiated and executed after 31 October 2016 being the commencement of Port of Melbourne Group’s (PoM) 50-year lease with the Victorian Government.

In developing the Charter, we have sought to:

provide transparency and predictability of negotiating processes, by explaining the steps and the timeframes involved in each process
assist existing tenants, prospective tenants and the PoM in negotiating terms and conditions of leases
explain the mediation and dispute resolution processes that exist to support existing tenants, prospective tenants and PoM in negotiating terms and conditions of leases
explain the compliance monitoring and disclosure regime that accompany this Charter.

The introduction of the Charter is informed by, and aligned with, the Essential Services Commission’s recommendations in their Port of Melbourne Market Rent Inquiry 2020.

If you would like more information on the Tenancy Customer Charter, please email TenancyCharter@portofmelbourne.com

Market Rent Inquiry

The Essential Services Commission (ESC) is currently undertaking a second Market Rent Inquiry covering the period 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2024.

The commercial tenancy environment at the Port is complex with many leases pre-dating privatisation (October 2016). Lease agreements vary in term, but long-term leases typically have a term of around 20 years or more, which gives our tenants certainty to plan and execute their business strategies.

In November 2021 we introduced the Tenancy Customer Charter, designed to assist tenants in negotiating leases that meet their bespoke operating needs, are commercially acceptable to both parties and are struck in accordance with our obligations to the Victorian Government.

Since the last Market Rent Inquiry findings were published in October 2020, PoM has taken ongoing steps to establish a customer centric relationship approach, including realignment of the property team to better meet the needs of our tenants.

Market Rent Inquiry Scope and Process Paper

On 1 October 2024, the Essential Services Commission published their Scope and Process Paper, which outlines opportunities to engage with the regulator.
A copy can be found here: Port of Melbourne market rent inquiry 2025 | Essential Services Commission

Port of Melbourne has provided a submission to the Essential Services Commission following publication of the Scope and Process Paper. Our submission can be downloaded here.

The ESC is also required to publish a ‘public notice’ which can be found here: Notice of inquiry: Port of Melbourne – Market rent inquiry 2024–25 | Victorian Digital Public Notices

Click here to view the Victorian Government Gazette published 3 October, 2024.

The ESC’s Indicative Timeline is shown below and can be found here.

Activity	Indicative Timeline
Release of scope and process paper	1 October 2024
Public forum (details below)	7 November 2024
Submissions on scope and process paper due	14 November 2024
Confidential drop-in sessions	November 2024
Release of preliminary report to the Port of Melbourne only	Mid-February 2025
The Port of Melbourne’s response to our preliminary findings due	End March 2025
Release of final report	30 April 2025

Public forum:

On 7 November 2024, the ESC held an online forum to provide stakeholders with information on the Market Rent Inquiry. A recording of the forum is available on the commission’s website.

For further information, visit Engage Victoria.